An Application of a Hydrologically Networked Watershed Model for

Evaluating AMD Treatment Scenarios

Mike Strager, Todd Petty, Brady Gutta, Jennifer Fulton, Rick Herd, Vishesh Maskey,

Jim Stiles, Julie Svetlik, and Paul Ziemkiewicz

Presentation for the 2008 PA AMR and Coal Mining Heritage Conference, State College, PA

Project Goal

• Restore sustainable fisheries in the majority of WV stream miles lost to historic, pre-law coal mining.

• 2,775 AMD impaired stream miles

• 114 10 digit HUCs

Objectives

1. Assist the WVDEP in developing a strategic, watershed-based approach to efficiently determine acid mine drainage (AMD) restoration needs

2. Develop restoration plans that maximize statewide recovery of cold- and warm-water fisheries

3. Assess the outcome (ecological and economic) of this effort

Stream Data•Water Chemistry•Temperature•Instream Habitat•Biological communities•Ecosystem processes

GIS-based Watershed Model

Watershed Restoration Master Plan

• 5 year plan• Priority implementation sequence• Expected costs and fisheries benefits• General guidance regarding reclamation

project designs

Landscape Data•Land Cover•Geology•Drainage Networks•Mine Data•Expected Development•Mine pool elevations

Monitoring & Assessment• Assess progress towards implementing

the master plan

Fishery / Ecological Priorities•Priorities to maximize recovery of coldwater and warmwater fisheries (EcoUnits).

•Reach scale and subwatershed (10-12 digit HUC) scale priorities.

•Points to stream segments where recovered fisheries are possible, and if recovered, would be highly valuable.

Reclamation Priorities•Action-by-action priorities needed to recover fisheries priorities.

• Implementation of at-source, in situ, and instream reclamation actions.

•Maximize cost:benefit efficiency.

Reclamation Design• Detailed engineering design of priority

reclamation projects

Project Implementation• Construction of priority reclamation

projects

Stakeholder Input

Need

• Integrate various chemical and ecological modeling components

• Spatial data

• Reproducible

• Standardize

• Visually illustrate remediation alternative outcomes

Chemical costs for AMD treatment

-1.5 -1.0 -0.5 0.0 0.5 1.0 1.5 2.0 2.5 3.0 3.5

WV

Str

ea

m C

on

diti

on

In

de

x

0

10

20

30

40

50

60

70

80

90

100

ReferenceModerate MiningIntensive Mining

WVSCI = 52.3 * exp (-0.504 x PC1)R2 = 0.804d.f. = 33

PC 1pH (-0.856)Alkalinity (-0.685)

Conductivity (0.851)Acidity (0.706)Hardness (0.684)Sulfates (0.862)Aluminum (0.934)Chromium (0.661)Iron (0.890)Manganese (0.893)Nickel (0.910)

Ecological Condition Models (bugs)

f (PC1 (80%), CVPC1 (9%))

0

3

6

9

12

15

18

21

0 3 6 9 12 15 18 21

Expected Species Richness

Obs

erve

d Sp

ecie

s R

ichn

ess

Good WQ / Low Mine Intensity Region

Good WQ / High Mine Intensity Region

Bad WQ / High Mine Intensity Region

Ecological Condition Models (Fishes)

f (basin area (80%), spatial position (8%))

Spatial AnalysisSpatial Analysis

• Location plays an important role in watershed management

• Spatial analysis quantifies relationships between locations

• Geographic Information Systems (GIS) aids in the analysis

Decision Support SystemDecision Support System

• An interactive, computer-based system designed to support a user or group of users in achieving a higher effectiveness of decision making

• Functions: – explore solutions by building alternatives – allow user interaction and input– provide for flexible data and analysis capabilities

(Jankowski, 1995)

Questions to Address:Questions to Address:

• What are average and low flows for non-gauged streams and unsampled sites?

• What are water quality conditions downstream of sampling?

• Where should abatement activities be focused?

Mass balance water quality prediction

• Mass balance

5

“Smart” accumulator

9

3

1

6Note:

Sampled

Modeled

5

11

3

1

8

Segment-level watersheds

Outlet

Select study area

Mass balance water quality prediction

• Mass balance

5

“Smart” accumulator

9

3

1

6Note:

Sampled

Modeled

5

11

3

1

8

WV Stream Condition Index

SummarySummary

• Spatial decision support system allows integration of components

• Hydrologically networked watersheds linked for “smart” mass balance model

• A tool for repeatable, transferable, standardized information for watershed management